[B-Greek] hUPOSTASIS Hebrews 3:14

Carl Conrad cwconrad2 at mac.com
Thu Jan 10 15:35:12 EST 2008


On Jan 10, 2008, at 2:32 PM, Michael Abernathy wrote:

>
> I note that most translations interpret hUPOSTASEWS in Hebrews 3:14 to
> mean something along the line of confidence.
> ἐάνπερ τὴν ἀρχὴν τη̂ς ὑποστάσεως  
> μέχρι τέλους βεβαίαν κατάσχωμεν
> EANPER THN ARCHN THS hUPOSTASEWS MEXRI TELOUS BEBAIAN KATASXWMEN
>
> Is there any reason that this could not be understood to mean  
> something
> along the line of,
> "If we hold firmly to the end the beginning of existence" referring to
> Jesus as the creator.
> Since the two concepts are found in Hebrews 1:1-2, in connection with
> hUPOSTASIS, it seems to me like the author may be continuing the  
> same idea.

In 1:3 hUPOSTASIS is used in an Aristotelian sense of "essential  
substance" -- that which underlies all attributes that may inhere in  
something at different times and under different circumstances. Here  
in 3:14 the sense is rather like that in Heb. 11:1 Ἔστιν δὲ  
πίστις ἐλπιζομένων ὑπόστασις,  
πραγμάτων ἔλεγχος οὐ βλεπομένων. [ESTIN  
DE PISTIS ELPIZOMENWN hUPOSTASIS, PRAGMATWN ELEGCOS OU BLEPOMENWN]

hUPOSTASIS here has the sense "basis" -- what we rely upon. While I  
wouldn't ordinarily appeal to etymology, the elements are evident  
there: "what one stands upon." The adjective BEBAIAN reinforces the  
sense, I think, BEBAIOS is commonly associated with what is "rock  
solid" or "unshakable" or "secure."

Carl W. Conrad
Department of Classics, Washington University (Retired)




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